Concerns Over Staff Well-Being at National Museum

More than 40% of staff at the National Museum of Ireland are at risk of developing anxiety or depression, according to an unpublished report into employee well-being at the institution.

One in five employees at the institution are ‘often’ or ‘always’ subjected to bullying, according to the unpublished report obtained by RTE.

Another 20% are “sometimes” the victims of bullying, while one employee complained of having to deal with “bullies and perverts”.

Completed last November the findings contained in ‘The Work Positive Profile Management Report’ shows how staff have requested ‘social activities not involving the pub’ as well as counselling; anger management and to know ‘how to deal with bullies and perverts’.

The revelations have prompted calls for the Minister for the Arts to appear before an Oireachtas Committee to discuss matters at the institution and to address an allegation her Department failed to act when alerted to alleged bullying.

The National Museum of Ireland operates four sites – The Natural History Museum on Merrion Street; The Archaeology museum on Kildare Street; the Museum of Country Life in Castlebar and the Museum of Decorative Arts and History in Collins Barracks.

Some of the findings of the report

• Staff contentedness at NMI is in the bottom 20% of Irish companies.
• More than 40pc of staff at the National Museum of Ireland are at serious risk of developing anxiety or depression; as measured by an index supplied by the World Health Organization.
• One employee complained of having to deal with ‘bullies and perverts’
• Seven in ten employees want mental health support to help deal with stress and depression.

In a statement; the museum said it had taken a range of actions since the health and wellbeing report.